kc bob

Bingeworthy TV

I once considered the idea of binging was something to be avoided. Then came old unwatched TV shows on Netflix. ツ

Here is my list of ones that I have found to be bingable followed by my ratings.

Person of Interest - for those who enjoy intrigue with a bit of conspiracy theory. (Netflix PG-13)
House of Cards - seasons one and two were pretty good but three kind of bombed. (Netflix R)
Daredevil - if you like the super hero genre this one is pretty good (Netflix PG-13)
The Americans - kgb spies in 1980s America posing as travel agents with kids. (Prime R)
Breaking Bad - probably the most addictive tv show about addiction and personality change out there. (Netflix R)
Battlestar Gallactica (2004-9) - a brilliant re-imagining of the 1970s series for sci-fi geeks like me. (Netflix PG-13)
The Killing - intense crime drama set in Seattle over three seasons (Netflix R)
Continuum - great series for anyone who like time travel plots. (Netflix PG-13)

Afre you a binger? Anything you might add to the list?

Through a purging flame of doubt ...

Ellen

"It is not as a child that I believe in Christ and profess his teaching;
my hosanna has burst through a purging flame of doubt." -Dostoevsky

I resonate with this quote. Sometimes our life experiences make it hard to believe. I was 26 when Christ came into my heart and began a process of transformation. I struggled for months before that. For years I had watched my wife Ellen suffer the blindness associated with diabetic retinopathy. By virtue of divine intervention she could now see in one eye. Yet the years had taken a toll on me. I was bitter towards the suffering. It was hard to embrace an entity that had allowed Ellen (and me) to experience such pain. For years all I had was bourbon and beer to comfort me.

Flames of doubt surrounded me as I tried to come to grips with the new life that Ellen was experiencing. In a sense her experiences were too good to be true. Yet it was impossible to doubt that something had happened to her. I could no more doubt the existence of gravity than to discount the amazing life changes that she was showing me. Her life was burning like a torch and confronting the darkness of my doubts. Then I prayed. My first real prayer in many years. A presence came upon me. I could no longer doubt. My hosanna was bursting through the flames.

The Prophet

My daughter gave me this wonderful picture a few years ago for Father's
Day. In it Doctor King is standing overlooking the crowds on the Mall in Washington DC and the words of his speech are printed at the bottom. The picture hangs in my hallway. I have long considered Doctor King an inspirational man to be admired by all who seek peace.

I have asked many people if they that believed Doctor King was a prophet and have gotten a wide variety of responses. I believe that he was a prophet to our nation ... it is sad that much of our nation and the church is confused about this. I wonder if he was speaking prophetically when he said:

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death."

Today I honor him, his legacy to our nation and his contributions to the kingdom of God by sharing these things that he said ... see if you can identify the theme.

At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love.

He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.

There can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love.

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality ... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

... originally posted in January 2009

Encouragement for a Wounded Soul

Kelli Standish

Come out from the shadows, wounded soul
Come out and let your wounds be seen
Let the light touch you, embrace you
As you are.

You do not need to wrap yourself in rags
of rage, and fear, and darkness
I see you, I see right through
And I love you.

Come out from the storm, wounded heart
Come out and let your storm subside
There is peace waiting, stillness
For all your fury.

You have not been condemned from birth
But loved, chosen, destined, seen
Your pain is not invisible
Your pain is not incurable.

Come out from the darkness, wounded one
Come out and let your purpose grow
Let hope breathe on your dying dreams
And wake them.

Look up from the swamplands, wounded child
Look up and find joy striding,
Armed for battle, through the mire
Coming now to free you.

... poem authored by Kelli Standish, the most inspirational person I know.

No Peacock Vow for Me

Isn't it interesting how people use the new year to get their act together? According to Wikipedia:

The ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts. The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named. In the Medieval era, the knights took the "peacock vow" at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry. At watchnight services, many Christians prepare for the year ahead by praying and making these resolutions.

Interesting beginnings to the practice of making resolutions. Don't really have any resolutions for next year.
I plan to pray and take one day at a time. I will occasionally schedule blog posts though. ツ

... originally posted in December 2012

End of year Hodgepodge

The folks at From This Side of the Pond have a meme called Wednesday Hodgepodge. Here's my entry for today.

Share a favorite memory/moment from the week of Christmas.

Gathering, cooking, eating and sharing with my family on Christmas day.
If someone wrote a book about your life based on the past year, what genre would it fall under? What would the title be?

Self help book based on Richard Rohr's "Falling Upward".
It would be titled "Stumbling Upward".
What made you feel patriotic this year?

Shows and stories about how America is caring for our wounded soldiers.
Also, watching American Sniper and seeing the bravery of our troops.
What experience from this past year would you like to do all over again?

Exploring downtown KC and trying new lunch spots close to our loft.
What song lyric sums up or is a reflection of your 2015?

You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometime, you just 'might' find, you get what you need.
On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate 2015? (10=stellar) Why?

5.5 - more good than bad. Not ready to commit to a 6 at this time.
What part of the upcoming year are you most excited about?

Spring. Love the walkable weather in downtown KC,
Insert your own random thought here.

Life is too short to drink bad coffee.

Thanks for reading. Join the fun at This Side of the Pond.

It's a Wonderful Capitalism

I am thinking about "It's a Wonderful Life", that wonderful Christmas movie about George Bailey and Henry Potter. The movie seems to contrast two versions of Capitalism. The Potter form of Capitalism is fueled by greed and sees no value in serving anyone but Potter. In stark contrast, George Bailey presents us with a very different variety of Capitalism. One that seeks riches of heart as well as that of bank account.

Yet today we seem to celebrate the acolytes of Potter more than we do those of Bailey. We seem to have forgotten how much we loved George when he rescued homeowners from Potter's slums. And how much we hated Potter when he took advantage of people when hard times hit. George never gave up on people but trusted them to pay their debts even when it was not "good business" to do so. Henry Potter trusted no one but himself.

In the end we came to understand what the angel told George was true: "no man is a failure who has friends.". And perhaps that is the heart of what Capitalism should aspire to? A system where everyone looks out for each other as if they are their friends? A society that understands how much we need each other? In the end our country might look a little more like George Bailey's Bedford Falls than the godless town of Pottersville.

Life is in the middle

I wrote this in January 2005. I have not given up on the dream but am not that hopeful.

On a political scale, my heart moans over how very few of us ever move to the middle. I’d love to see a centrist party morph from the 2 parties. I know I’m dreaming. What would it be like to have a party that endorsed:

Tangible commitments to the working poor,
Moderate trade agreements that helped US labor,
Sensible restrictions on abortions (i.e. 2nd trimester viability),
Gun control that excluded hunting rifles (i.e.shotguns),
Middle ground health care coverage for everyone,
Some limits on liability for health care professionals.

Not a complete list but you get the idea. I think that the problem with this approach is that few people want to let go of the ideology and rhetoric. On one end you have the Rush Limbaughs and on the other end the Kate Michelsons … both full of rhetoric and afraid to give an inch on anything. The influence that special interest groups have on our leaders tend to polarize not unite. It would be good for politicians to divorce themselves from special interest oriented organizations and find common ground through mutual respect and earnest dialogue.

The Work of Christmas

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and the princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,

The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.

Howard Thurman, author, philosopher, theologian, educator and civil rights leader

Star Wars :: The Force Awakens | ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

I liked the movie and may review it in detail later. On a scale of ten, I give it ★★★★★★★☆☆☆.

Catch my other mini-reviews by selecting the Movies link in the menu bar above.

Christmas Gift Suggestions

To your enemy, forgiveness.

To an opponent, tolerance.

To a friend, your heart.

To a customer, service.

To all, charity.

To every child, a good example.

To yourself, respect.

To Jesus, all.

... first posted December 2012

The Longest Night

About 10 years ago our church had a "Longest Night" service. The idea was inspired by a counselor friend of mine who told me about how her Methodist church acknowledges people's pain on the night of the winter solstice (December 21). As I researched for this church service I came across this meditation written by Rev. Diane Hendricks in 2001.

Longest Night Meditation

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Only it's not.

Not for everyone.
Not when there is an empty chair at the table.
Not when your body is ravaged with illness.
Not when the depression is too much to bear.
Not without her voice joining yours on the Christmas carols.
Not when you feel all alone even in a crowd.
Not when you are not sure you can even afford the rent or mortgage, let alone the presents.
Not when they are trying their best to the best of you.
Not when another Christmas party means he will come home drunk again.

It's the most wonderful time of the year?

No, it's not.

And trying to smile and say Merry Christmas is more than difficult. It's pretty near impossible.

C.S. Lewis once wrote:

"No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning..."

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

Only it's not.

Not after he has died.
Not after the doctor gave you the news.
Not after they told you they would be downsizing.
Not after... you fill in the blank.
Not after September 11.
Not when there is so much violence and destruction in the world.

In truth, it has never been the most wonderful time of the year. Certainly not in the days surrounding that first Christmas so long ago. The story of the birth of Jesus is not to be told with a jolly voice and a merry ho-ho-ho.

It is the story of a teenage girl, pregnant with a child that is not her husband's.

It is the story of a child born in a dirty animal stall.

It is the story of a family of refugees who had to flee their homeland so that their child would not be killed.

It is the story of one sent into the world in peace who was condemned to death.

It is the story of a light sent to shine in the darkness, which the world snuffed out.

It is the story of God's never-ending, self-giving mercy which was rejected and condemned.

In the great work the Messiah, Handel quotes the prophet Isaiah, proclaiming that Jesus was "despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief." One great theologian reminds us that we cannot come to the manger without acknowledging that it lays in the shadow of the cross.

It is not the most wonderful time of the year.

Only it is!

It is:

If we forget about the tinsel and the trees.
If we forget about the holly jolly tidings.
If we forget about the presents and the ornaments and the trappings.

And remember.

Remember the story.

Mary was alone and afraid.
But God was with her and exalted her among women.
Joseph was disgraced.
But God revealed in Joseph's cause for disgrace God's plan to save the world.
The world was in darkness.
But God sent the light of life to shine.
The lowly were imprisoned.
But Jesus set them free.
The blind wandered aimlessly.
But Christ gave them eyes to see.
The lame were rejected.
But through the Holy One they were made to leap and dance.
The deaf were confined to the silence.
But the song of life unstopped their ears.
The sorrowful grieved.
But God wipes away our tears.
We were alone.
But in Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God is with us.
The people rejected God.
But God embraces us.
The world crucified Christ.
But God would not allow that to be the last word, and gave us the sure hope of the resurrection.

It is the most wonderful time of the year, not because you have to be cheery and happy and merry.

But because you don't.

You can have heavy spirits and shattered dreams. Broken hearts and deep wounds.

And still God comes to be with you.

To comfort you.
To redeem you.
To save you.
To restore you.
To empower you.
To strengthen you.
To grant you peace.
To be raised for you.
To hold you in the communion of saints with those whom you have loved and lost.
To store your tears in his bottle.
To offer you eternal life.

It is the most wonderful time of the year.
For Christ is born.
Love has come.
God is with us!
Thanks be to the Lord our God.

Rev. Diane Hendricks
16 December 2001

Enough

Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy enough. -Emily Dickinson

Efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction. -John F. Kennedy

If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. -Oprah Winfrey

No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar. -Abraham Lincoln

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough. -Meister Eckhart

Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for. -Dag Hammarskjold

Why he is a Christian

People often ask me why I'm a Christian. Here's what I tell them.

I’m a Christian because Jesus Christ found me and called me, around 40 years ago. I’m a Christian because it makes sense to me, because Jesus rose from the dead - he conquered death and sin and suffering.

I'm a Christian because in Jesus I see the God who didn’t say, "This is how you lot have got to behave, and I’m going to watch you and judge you." Instead he came alongside us and lived in the middle of the absolute foulest mess, and died unjustly young in great agony, and bore all that was wrong in this world on his shoulders.

I'm a Christian because in my own experience I’ve run away and God has met me and yet not been angry with me. When I’ve failed he’s picked me up and healed and strengthened me.

That’s why I’m a Christian. And that’s why, whatever happens, whatever stupid mistakes, I know that even at the end of it all, even if everything else fails, God doesn’t — and he will not fail even to the end of my life.

~Justin Welby, The Archbishop Of Canterbury

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